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An interview with Jens Marquardt and Michael Andretti ahead of the start of the FIA Formula E Championship.

Thu Oct 06 17:24:04 CEST 2016 Δελτίο τύπου

The MS Amlin Andretti team takes to the track for the start of the new FIA Formula E Championship season this weekend. As partner of the team from Indianapolis (US), BMW will also be involved in the 2016/17 season. In an interview, BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt and team owner Michael Andretti (US) discuss the new partnership and their expectations ahead of the opening race of the season, the Hong Kong ePrix.

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An interview with Jens Marquardt and Michael Andretti ahead of the
start of the FIA Formula E Championship.

Mr Marquardt, Mr Andretti, why do you feel the
combination of BMW Motorsport and MS Amlin Andretti
in Formula E is so promising?

Jens Marquardt: “Michael Andretti’s team has
been involved in Formula E from the word go, and
knows the series better than anyone. As ‘Official
Vehicle Partner’, BMW i has also been represented in
this series from the outset. And, last but not
least, we have also received first-hand information
from our BMW works driver António Félix da Costa. It
seemed a logical step to put these strengths
together and intensify the commitment. We now need
the right input to get BMW technology into the car –
we are gaining that through the close cooperation
with Michael’s team.”

Michael Andretti: “We’re also very excited about
the relationship with BMW. Having an OEM
relationship is important, but having that
relationship be with BMW is even better. It’s quite
an honour to be associated with such a great company.”

How important is it in Formula E to be
willing to learn and to gain new experience from
race to race?

Andretti: “When it comes to racing there is
always learning. You don’t go into any race not
thinking you’re going to learn something. That’s the
beauty of racing, nobody knows everything and you’re
constantly learning.”

Marquardt: “It goes without saying that both BMW
and Andretti Formula E already have plenty of
experience. However, Formula E is only in its third
year. In a championship like this, which demands
completely new approaches as a fully-electric racing
series, it is extremely important to ensure that you
are learning all the time. You have to know exactly
what you are dealing with. Every little detail can
make the difference. It is precisely this know-how
that we want to acquire.”

What exact form will the partnership take?

Marquardt: “We obviously add our know-how and
development expertise to this equation. We will have
people on site at the racetrack, and our staff will
evaluate the data back home in Munich. Through us,
Andretti has access to the BMW facilities, which we
also use at BMW Motorsport: the wind tunnel, test
rigs and much more. Andretti employees have already
been out to Munich, and we have visited the team in
the USA. The partnership is already a very close one.”

Andretti: “Yes, indeed. We are 100% integrated
with BMW when it comes to the Formula E project, and
BMW is 100% integrated with Andretti Formula E, so
there are things we will be working on together in
many different areas to hopefully have us running up front.”

How well suited to each other are the
‘American way of racing’ and the ‘German way of racing’?

Marquardt: “They are both very well suited to
each other. We’ve also seen this in our cooperation
with BMW Team RLL, and have enjoyed great success
together in North America. I am confident that this
combination of American and German approaches will
also produce good results in an international series
like Formula E.”

Andretti: “I also believe the two sides will
compliment each other very well. There are a lot of
things we do on this side of the pond that work well
and there are a lot of things that are done on that
side of the pond that work well, and I think
bringing them both together can only strengthen the
way we approach things.”

Lean back and rest on your laurels: why can
you not afford to do this in motorsport?

Andretti: “What makes our brands so
complimentary to each other is Andretti and BMW are
both in it to win. While the foundation of our
history is important, you can’t just look back – you
always have to continue pushing to run up front and
win races and that is what we are all about.”

Marquardt: “The same goes for us. The key to
success in motorsport is to look forward and be
innovative. If you’re not moving forwards, you’re
heading backwards. For this reason, you have to keep
working all the time and ensure that you never stop
developing. At BMW Motorsport, we are fortunate
enough to be very close to our colleagues in the
production department and to be able to incorporate
all the innovations that come out of BMW AG. The
network is absolutely huge. We also benefit from
this in Formula E. We have gained good experience in
series production with the BMW i models, and are
able to transfer these findings straight into
motorsport. In recent years, BMW has established a
leading position in the automobile industry in the
field of electric mobility, which is forever growing
in importance. Production development will, in turn,
also benefit from the knowledge acquired through
racing in Formula E.”

What expectations do you have going into the
third season of Formula E?

Andretti: “To be running up front. To be running
in the top five every race, win some races and
hopefully at the end of the season be running in
championship contention.”

Marquardt: “For us, season three heralds a new
phase in Formula E. Together with Andretti, we are
charged with improving the package and laying the
foundations, on which we can be successful in the
long term. Every one of us is looking forward to
this exciting challenge.”

CO2 emission information.

Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified. Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the “Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars", which can be obtained from dealerships and here as PDF.

Related Video Content.

Fuel consumption figures based on the EU test cycle, may vary depending on the tyre format specified. Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the “Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars", which can be obtained from dealerships and here as PDF.